Chinese Architect
1, Course of Development of Chinese Ancient Architecture
Summary
In the Paleolithic Age , men lived on fishery and hunting , and were sheltered in trees and caves . In the Neolithic Age , men engaged in raising animals and farming , and settled down by digging caves and by building simple houses with twigs and lumber , thus commencing their architectural activities . During the 3,000 years of the feudalist society , Chinese ancient architecture formulated gradually its unique system , coupled with a considerable progress in urban planning , garden designing , and house construction technique . In 221 B.C. , the First Emperor of the Qin Empire mobilized the resources of the country to do construction works on a massive scale , including A’Fang Palace , the Emperor’s Mausoleum , the Great Wall and the Dujiangyan Water-Conservancy Project . In the Later dynasties , many more massive construction works of lasting fame were carried out .
— — Course of Development of Chinese Ancient Architecture
2, The Chinese ancient architecture types
— — The Chinese ancient architecture types
— — Typical Ancient Architectural Remains 1
— — Typical Ancient Architectural Remains 2
— — Typical Ancient Architectural Remains 3
— — Typical Ancient Architectural Remains 4
— — Typical Ancient Architectural Remains 5
— — Typical Ancient Architectural Remains 6
— — Typical Ancient Architectural Remains 7
— — Typical Ancient Architectural Remains 8
3, Graceful Garden Architectures
Summary
The Chinese garden architecture is one of the four essential factors for garden landscaping. The garden architectures should satisfy the requirements both for practical purposes and for landscaping the garden. They should blend with the environment within the garden and the natural environment, either as a central scenic spot or as an individual small scenic spot easy to access. Anyway the should be a finishing touch.
The Chinese garden architectures are characterized by taking advantage of the environment so that the natural scenes and human interest could be merged. The classic garden architectures are often embellished with calligraphy of poems and with paintings. They shun symmetry along an axis and adopt an irregular and complicated layout with plenty of large and small spaces. The appearance of a garden building should be aesthetic and expressive, and enhance the beauty of the surroundings. In its details, exquisite decorative means should be made use of, such as pretty guardrails, patterned windows, grilles, etc.
A garden building is a place for viewing the scenery within or beyond the garden and is a often a key point of the garden. So both the direction of the building and the positions of its doors and windows should take into consideration the viewing angles and the routes. Often it serves as a turning corner.
Famous Chinese garden architectures include Chengde Mountain Estate, Yuanmingyuan Garden, Liu Garden in Suzhou, etc.
— — Graceful Garden Architectures-Chengde Mountain Estates
— — Yuanming Yuan
— — Liu Yuan
